GLUCOSE MEASURING DEVICE INTEGRATED INTO A HOLSTER FOR A PERSONAL AREA NETWORK DEVICE

• US 20080060955A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Therasense Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Therasense Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Goodnow, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/858,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060955A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/305
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/06 Accessories for medical measuring apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A glucose meter module integrated into a holster device that can securely accommodate another device such as a portable server device or an insulin pump is described. The glucose measuring module and the health device communicate with each other by a short range wireless modality. In the case in which the accommodated device is a server, such as personal digital assistant or cell phone, the device stores data in a memory, displays data on a visual display, and can wirelessly transmit such data to other devices within a personal area network. In the case where the accommodated device is a cell phone, the phone can further transmit data to remote sites. In the case where the accommodated device is an insulin pump, wirelessly received data are stored in a memory, are available for visual display on the insulin pump, and can be incorporated into the electronic processes that regulate the performance of the pump.

Claims

1. A glucose monitoring device housing, comprising:

a holster unit; and

a glucose sensing module integrally disposed on the holster unit;

wherein the holster unit is configured to substantially receive a server device, the server device configured to wirelessly communicate with the glucose sensing module.

2. The housing of claim 1 wherein the server device includes a blood glucose monitoring device.

3. The housing of claim 1 wherein the server device includes one or more of an insulin pump, a personal digital assistant, a mobile telephone, and a portable gaming unit.

4. The housing of claim 1 wherein the server device is configured to receive one or more data from the glucose sensing module, the one or more data including one or more data related to a detected blood glucose level.

5. The housing of claim 1 wherein the glucose sensing module includes a test strip port configured to receive a test strip.

6. The housing of claim 1 wherein the glucose sensing module is substantially elongate.

7. The housing of claim 1 wherein the glucose sensing module is configured to transmit data to the server device when the server device is substantially positioned within the holster unit.

8. The housing of claim 1 wherein the holster unit includes:

a belt clip portion; and

a device clasping portion mechanically coupled to the belt clip portion.

9. The housing of claim 8 wherein the belt clip portion is mechanically coupled to the device clasping portion by a spring biased connector unit.

10. The housing of claim 8 wherein the glucose sensing module is integrally disposed on one of the belt clip portion and the device clasping portion.

11. The housing of claim 8 wherein the glucose sensing module includes a test strip port configured to receive a test strip.

12. The housing of claim 8 wherein the device clasping portion of the holster unit is configured to receive the server device such that the server device is in physical contact with the device clasping portion.

13. The housing of claim 12 wherein the server device is securely positioned substantially within the device clasping portion of the holster unit.

14. The housing of claim 1 wherein each of the glucose sensing module and the server device includes a communication port for data communication.

15. The housing of claim 14 wherein the glucose sending module communication port and the server device communication port each includes one of an infrared port, a Bluetooth enabled communication port, and a Wi-Fi enabled communication port.

16. The housing of claim 1 wherein the server device includes one or more of an output unit, and an input unit.

17. The housing of claim 16 wherein the output unit includes one or more of a display unit and an audio output unit.

18. The housing of claim 17 wherein the display unit includes one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit, a plasma display unit, and a touch-sensitive display unit, and further, wherein the audio output unit includes an output speaker.

19. The housing of claim 16 wherein the input unit includes one or more of an input button, and a touch-sensitive input unit integrated with the output unit.

20. The housing of claim 16 wherein the output unit is configured to output one or more of an image data, a video data, and an audio signal, in response to a predetermined event.

21. The housing of claim 20 wherein the predetermined event includes one or more of an input command generated by the input unit and a detection of a glucose sensing module signal.

22. A method of providing a glucose monitoring device housing, comprising the step of:

providing a holster unit;

integrally disposing a glucose sensing module on the holster unit;

configuring the holster unit to substantially receive a server device; and

configuring the server device to wirelessly communicate with the glucose sensing module.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the server device includes a blood glucose monitoring device.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the server device includes one or more of an insulin pump, a personal digital assistant, a mobile telephone, and a portable gaming unit.

25. The method of claim 22 further including the step of configuring the server device to receive one or more data from the glucose sensing module, the one or more data including one or more data related to a detected blood glucose level.

26. The method of claim 22 further including the step of providing a test strip port on the glucose sensing module, the test strip port configured to receive a test strip.

27. The method of claim 22 further including the step of configuring the glucose sensing module to transmit data to the server device when the server device is substantially positioned within the holster unit.